Extrication Equipment

Question 1

What PPE is specifically designed to protect rescuers at vehicle extrications?

Answer 1

• Retroflective vest
• Goggles / face shield
• Ear plugs
• Extrication gloves

Question 2

What fire apparatus respond to vehicle rescue emergencies?

Answer 2

• Light rescue vehicles - only handle basic functions
• Medium rescue vehicles - carry a variety of equipment
• Rescue engines - carry equipment for structural firefighting and rescues
• Standard engines - can perform some duties
• Ladder trucks - better equipped for rescue than engine trucks

Question 3

What 3 types of air supply systems are commonly found on rescue apparatus?

Answer 3

• Cascade
• Breathing air compressors
• Non-breathing air compressors

Question 4

What 4 things are tools used for?

Answer 4

According to the class notes, they increase:
* Grip
* Strength
* Reach
* Speed

According to the textbook, they are classified by power (i.e. manual, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic) or use:
* Stabilizing
* Spreading
* Cutting
* Lifting
* Pulling

Question 5

What are the 5 main functions of rescue tools?

Answer 5

• Severing
• Distorting
• Displacing
• Disassembling
• Hazard control

Question 6

What is severing?

Answer 6

To divide into two or more parts by cutting, piercing, penetrating, splitting, breaking, sawing, etc.

Advantages:
* Gaining access to a patient
* Disentanglement of a patient
* Enlarging an area to facilitate patient removal (creating an extrication pathway)

Question 7

What is distorting?

Answer 7

To change the shape of an object in a plastic flow manner or other manner without severing. Examples include bending, prying, enlarging, expanding, squeezing and compressing. This is done in order to:
* Enlarge spaces
* Remove obstacles
* Move portions of a vehicle into more advantageous positions

Question 8

What is displacing?

Answer 8

The moving of an object from its original position to another. Examples include lifting, lowering, pushing, and pulling.

Applications include:
* Removal of debris or a portion of the structure to gain access
* Removal of wreckage from around patient
* Removal of patient from wreckage

Question 9

What is disassembling?

Answer 9

Taking something apart, such as removing a door from a car by unscrewing it from the hinges.

Applications include:
* Gaining access
* Disentanglement
* Creating an extrication pathway
* Removal of patient from wreckage

Note that of all tool functions, this is the safest but the slowest!

Question 10

What tools are used for hazard control and safety?

Answer 10

Stabilization tools such as cribbing, lighting to illuminate the scene, barrier tape to secure the control zone, booms and socks to control spills, etc.

Question 11

What is the most common piece of stabilization equipment?

Answer 11

Cribbing

Question 12

What is “marrying vehicles”?

Answer 12

Marrying vehicles is using 2 cars to stabilize each other. With one on top of the other, you crib the bottom car to the ground and chain the top car to the bottom.

Question 13

What are some benefits of hand tools for extrication?

Answer 13

• Easy to put into operation; no complicated set up
• Usually have multiple uses
• Are a valuable back up for power tools in case of failure

Question 14

What functions do hand tools provide?

Answer 14

• Striking (distorting & displacing)
• Cutting (severing)
• Prying (distorting & displacing)
• Lifting (displacing)

Question 15

What is mechanical advantage?

Answer 15

Mechanical advantage is a measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool or mechanical device. The tool or device trades off input forces against movement to obtain a desired amplification in the output force.

A system’s mechanical advantage is expressed as a ratio using a colon. For example, a 2:1 or 3:1 system (these are pronounced as a “2 to 1” and “3 to 1”). The first number represents the force of the load and the second number is the force that the rescuers are applying to the load. For example, when using a 3:1 system, for every three pounds of load, the rescuers will be holding one pound. This means that the rescuers will only need to pull 100 pounds to raise a 300-pound load.

Question 16

What is ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) or theoretical mechanical advantage?

Answer 16

The ideal mechanical advantage (IMA), or theoretical mechanical advantage, is the mechanical advantage of a device with the assumption that its components do not flex, there is no friction, and there is no wear. It is calculated using the physical dimensions of the device and defines the maximum performance the device can achieve.

Question 17

What is actual mechanical advantage (AMA)?

Answer 17

In contrast to ideal mechanical advantage, this accounts for flex of the components, friction, and wear.

Question 18

Which types of jacks have the most mechanical force: hydraulic or mechanical (i.e. screw or ratchet-lever)?

Answer 18

Hydraulic

Question 19

What are pneumatic tools?

Answer 19

Tools that use compressed air for power such as air chisels / hammers, wrenches, and saws and lifting bags.

Question 20

When stacking multiple lifting bags, how should they arranged, inflated, and deflated?

Answer 20

• The largest bag must be on the bottom
• At most, 3 bags can be stacked
• They must be inflated in size order, from largest to smallest (i.e. bottom to top)
• They must be inflated in the inverse order, from top to bottom

Question 21

What stacking multiple lifting bags, how do you calculate the load capacity?

Answer 21

When performing a stacking operation, we need to remember the maximum lifting capacity is limited by the smaller bag’s lifting capacity. For example, if you have a 25-ton lift bag on the bottom of a stack and a 10-ton bag on top, you will still only have a maximum lifting capacity of 10 tons.

Question 22

When using multiple lifting bags side by side, how should they be inflated and deflated?

Answer 22

At the same time.

Question 23

When using multiple lifting bags side by side, how do you calculate the load capacity?

Answer 23

In this case you double your lifting capacity because of the increased surface area and can add the capacity of the bags.

Question 24

What are hydraulic tools?

Answer 24

Hydraulic tools are high-powered tools that use pressurized fluid to operate hydraulic machinery. The fluid moves through hydraulic tubes and into the tool’s actuator, where the pressure stored in the fluid is transferred to the machine’s moving parts. Then the fluid is channeled back via a pumping mechanism to be re-pressurized. Hydraulic tools are strong, portable, and flexible enough for use in a variety of applications. They can be powered in several ways:
* Compressed air
* Pressurized water
* Deisel or gasoline engines
* Electric motors
* PTO

Question 25

What electric and battery-powered electric tools are used in extrication?

Answer 25

* Lights * Fans * Generators * Drills * Several types of saws such as the reciprocating saw

Question 26

What is the proper way to operate a reciprocating saw at an extrication?

Answer 26

* Select the appropriate blade for the type of metal being cut * Ensure a new blade is used for every extrication * Remove the plastic before cutting * Press the blade plate against the cutting surface * Let the blade cut; do not force the saw * Have water ready to combat heat and sparks generated * Remember NOT to use a reciprocating saw for cutting if someone is impailed with a metal object since they generate a lot of heat and vibrations; a band saw should be used instead.

Question 27

What is the appropriate type of reciprocating saw blade and cutting speed to use for each type of metal: * Hard metal / alloy (post 2015 cars) * Aluminum (i.e. Ford 150) * Stainless steel (i.e. Porsche Cayman, Tesla Cybertruck)

Answer 27

* Hard metal / alloy: fast / carbide * Aluminum: medium / carbide * Stainless steel: slow / diamond git

Question 28

What are the best reciprocating saw blades to use for rescue?

Answer 28

Diablo

Question 29

For what operation are hydraulic rams primarily used?

Answer 29

Pushing, such as a dashboard push / lift

Question 30

What is the recommended max distance of a hose reel for powering rescue tools?

Answer 30

100 feet

Question 31

What is *hose reaction time*?

Answer 31

The time from which the tool meets resistance until the hose expands to develop back pressure in order to allow the hydraulic pump to increase pressure. Longer hoses generally mean longer hose reaction times. Note that maximum hydraulic pressure is only achieved when the tool cannot overcome the resistance.

Question 32

What are the two types of hydraulic fluid?

Answer 32

Phosphate ester, used in Hurst tools, and mineral based, which is EPA friendly.

Question 33

What are the pros and cons of phosphate ester and mineral based hydraulic fliud?

Answer 33

Question 34

What is the appropriate way to clean rescue tools?

Answer 34

* Follow the manufacturer's instructions * Wash with soap and water * Use a 10% bleech solution to clean off bodily fluids and let air dry

Question 35

What's a 2 cycle versus a 4 cycle engine?

Answer 35

Both engines use the combustion cycle to produce energy. Essentially the numbers 2 and 4 refer to the number of piston strokes the engine takes to cover the complete fuel combustion and exhaust process, or power stroke. The main difference between a 2 and 4 cycle engine is that gas and oil are combined in a 2 cycle engine while they're separated in a 4 cycle.

Question 36

What are thermal cutting devices?

Answer 36

Tools that use high heat to cut metal. Examples include: * Oxy-acetylene toches * Plasma arc cutters * Cutting flares

Question 37

What are the safety considerations for thermal cutting devices?

Answer 37

* Do not use in a flammable environment * Have a charged hoseline in place before using * Wear full PPE * Store and use acetylene cylinders upright, away from heat and dampness

Question 38

What are come alongs?

Answer 38

A manually operating pulling tool that uses a ratchet / pulley system to create mechanical advantage. In extrications, they can also be used for lifting operations such as dashboard lifts.

Question 39

What is a winch?

Answer 39

A winch is a pulling device that may be portable, but is typically mounted on the front, rear, or side of a vehicle. They consist of a rope, cable, or chain that wind around a horizontal rotating drum that's turned by a crank, motor, or other power source. Compared to other pulling devices, they are stronger, faster to deploy, and have a greater reach or pulling distance. They are primarily used for recovery but can also be used for vehicle stabilization.

Question 40

When using a winch, what is the area referred to as the "danger zone"?

Answer 40

The danger zone is the area surrounding the winch in which the cable can whip around and strike someone if it breaks. Avoiding the danger zone during winch operations is a critical safety consideration.

Question 41

What should be done to properly maintain winches?

Answer 41

* Cables should be inspected regularly because they develop memory on the coil (i.e. the cable returns to the coiled form it had on the winch after it is stretched out) and vehicle vibrations can fray them over time * Ensure bolts are tight on the winch mounting so it's secure

Question 42

What safety precautions should be taken when operating winches?

Answer 42

* Never exceed the rated load capacity * Never use a winch to pull a living person * Never step or stand over a cable that's under tension * Never operate the winch when there are less than 5 wraps of cable around the winch drum * Use mechanical advantage to reduce the load on the cable when pulling objects near the winch's rated capacity * Always place the hook so its back is either facing the ground or facing away from the winch operator (because in the event of failure, the hook will move in the direction of the back of the hook) * Avoid the danger zone * Drape a blanket or tarp over the cable about 5 to 6 feet from the hook to make the cable more visible to nearby personnel and reduce recoil in the event of a failure

Question 43

What are some advantages and disadvantage of lifting jacks?

Answer 43

Advantages: * They can be adjusted to the required height * Can be fit into tight spaces Disadvantages: * Can be time-consuming to set up * May limit access to the vehicle * Can shift (so cribbing should always be used)

Question 44

What are rescue struts?

Answer 44

Struts are adjustable stabilization tools that are used for side resting vehicles. Struts typically consist of a tube attached to a base plate, which spreads the vehicle load. The lower end of the tube houses another tube that telescopes out. A series of holes runs down each side so that a pin can be inserted through the holes to hold it at the desired length. Any space remaining between the top of the tube and the bottom of the vehicle can be taken up with a screw jack in the end of the tube.

Question 45

What is a tension buttress system?

Answer 45

Tensioned buttress systems are created using one or more struts and a ratcheting device to apply lateral and upward force to a vehicle to stabillize it when it's flipped over or resting on its side. The goal is to create a stabilizing triangle: the wider the triangle's base, the stronger the buttress system.